Yesterday evening saw the second of six mass ascents for the balloons participating in the 34th Bristol International Balloon Fiesta (there are three early morning flights and three evening flights, with night glows on the evenings in between). It is an incredible spectacle, made more exciting by the fact that you never really know until the last moment whether or not it will happen – poor weather conditions have conspired against the event in the past. But yesterday was warm and still and very clear. Perfect.
In the past we have been able to watch the balloons glide by from the comfort of our garden, but yesterday we realised that what little wind there was would carry the balloons up and away towards Weston. Luckily, Brandon Hill, one of the best vantage points in the city, is not so very far away. So we packed a picnic and raced off, making it just in time.
Once the balloons had floated off into the sunset it was time for the obligatory downhill roll
and modelling cherry earrings.
They were going the wrong way to make it up to Worcester then.
Love a cherry earring.
There is a similar event near me in Northampton and it is a spectacular sight, when it happens. I recall one year that a lot of the baskets were dragged over onto their sides, not good.
I would love to see a big balloon festival. We get the odd one flying over us and I always have to race out and watch until it disappears. They are a little bit magical.
Hi,
We used to watch the balloons from our bedroom window when we lived in Bishopston. We now live just north of Weston, I don’t think they got this far.
Charming! WOuld love to see the balloon festival in Santa Fe, NM where my son livess. They say it is a spectacle!
Beautiful balloons…!